Ashley was recently featured as the cover story in the July 8th issue of Cashbox magazine!

"The Swing and The Sting Of Ashley MacIsaac"

Story:Lenny Stoute

There has never been a fiddlin' fool like Ashley MacIsaac and Lord knows it'll be a long time 'till we see his like again. So it's great to know he's still with us and kickin' it Ash-style. Which translates as: Send lovers, guns and money and take no prisoners. Oh wait, that's Ashley Bad Boy and dude says he ain't down with that no more..."

ASHLEY MACISAAC IS BACK WITH NEW ALBUM “CROSSOVER” On June 14th 2011Ashley MacIsaac will release Crossover, an album that is Ashley at his best. Being the result of over 3 years, 6 different studios, countless international concerts and the combined efforts of Ashley and musical friends such as Quinn Bachand and Mary Jane Lamond, Crossover is Ashley’s first album of this style in ten years!

All of these elements have led to this fun album with Celtic crossovers such as the beautiful “She’s A Rare One”, sung by Mary Jane Lamond. “I begged Mary Jane to sing my favorite old Gaelic song,” MacIsaac recalls, “finally she did and it was worth all the begging! Mary Jane Lamond is indeed a rare one.” There is also the bittersweet ballad “White Velvet”, the lyrics of which MacIsaac credits as an inspiration for the entire album is coupled with music influenced by his Catholic upbringing. Of course we can also expect electrifying, fast paced Power Rock Fiddle songs like Poka Rokin. “This was my dad's favorite Cape Breton step dance tune which I kicked up one powerful notch!”

Throughout the recording period Ashley had decided that he wanted to follow up in the same vein as his first major hit record Hi How are you Today?. And while having made 7 more albums and ventured into many different genres since then, the album manages to echo his first big hit while also containing different styles which span the range of influences and musical textures that Ashley has discovered throughout his life.

“I’m just a Cape Bretoner making my music and speaking from my soul for all the world to hear.” Already considered something of a local legend and prodigy by the time of his impressive 1992 debutClose To The Floor, Ashley really broke through in to the mainstream with 1995’s double-platinum genre-bending Hi, How Are You Today?. International radio play and a regular slot on MuchMusic made Ashley an instant Canadian icon.

Recent highlights in Ashley’s career include a feature performance in the opening ceremonies at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics and tours with the likes of Philip Glass and The Chieftains. He has played on the Conan O’Brian show and Carnegie Hall and performed with the White Stripes for their Under Great White Northern Lights Canadian tour which was turned in to a documentary.

It is with great pleasure we announce Ashley's involvement with Philip Glass and his ongoing epic show called Orion with a cast of international superstars. In the past they have played Greece where the show was commissioned by the 2004 Athens Cultural Olympiad, Italy, France, Australia and now on to Mexico for 3 shows in October.

WHISTLER, B.C. — The African skier known as the Snow Leopard can now add musician to his improbable list of accomplishments.

Kwame Nkrumah Acheampong, known for his trademark white leopard-print ski suit and underdog story, has defied the odds by becoming the first person from the snowless African country of Ghana to qualify for the Olympics.

Now he's entered the recording studio with Canadian fiddler Ashley MacIsaac to record a benefit song for his Olympic dream.

Acheampong said Thursday he was coaxed into the recording studio by MacIsaac, who wanted to contribute to the Snow Leopard's Olympic dream - like many Canadians who have donated everything from ski hills, new cars and luxurious accommodations.

The instrumental tune, tentatively entitled "Dreams," is set for release Friday.

Acheampong, 35, said MacIsaac approached him after the Games opening ceremonies in Vancouver, where MacIsaac performed and Acheampong participated as the only athlete from Ghana.

"I don't sing, so, in the first instance we just said, 'No, it's not going to happen," said Acheampong. "It finally turned out they didn't need any voice, so, I just said, 'OK, I don't mind playing one of those small drums, hand drums."'

Acheampong said he is excited about hearing the finished product.

"We went there and it was pretty amazing to hear the gentleman fiddle close up," he said.

Members of Vancouver band Spirit of the West were also involved in the recording.

Acheampong said he's aware of MacIsaac's sometimes rebellious musical approach to traditional Canadian fiddle music, calling some of it "crazy sounding," but he likes what he's heard.

Acheampong, who will compete in the men's slalom and giant slalom next week, said Canadians have helped him realize his dream of competing in the Olympics through their kindness.

He estimated it would have cost him and his team a minimum of $25,000 to come to Whistler, but Canadians have given him a free ride, prompting him to say he feels the country has taken him under its wing.

"It was fantastic to see people reaching deep into their own pockets to support a team when they didn't have any connection in terms of being Canadians supporting Canadian Olympians and trying to support us as well," Acheampong said.

He said prior Canadian Olympic underdog stories like the Jamaican bobsleigh team and British ski jumper Eddie (The Eagle) Edwards from the 1988 Winter Games in Calgary have contributed to his popularity in Canada.

But Acheampong said he wants Canadians to know he is a serious competitor who qualified for the Games. He said his Olympic dream is to encourage others from Ghana to take up skiing and compete in the Olympics.

The Scottish-born Acheampong said he first learned to ski at an indoor ski facility in England, but in six years managed to qualify for the Olympics.

He said he picked up several bad skiing habits in his early years without coaching, but has been making great strides.

Acheampong, who describes his skiing style as copy cat, said he won't win a medal at Whistler, but he won't finish last, either.

Today Ashley MacIsaac, Vince Ditrich, Geoff Kelly, Tobin Frank, Matthew Harderalong all of Spirit of The West, with Kwame known as the Snow Leopard entered the Armoury studio's in Vancouver to record a theme song to help fund Kwame's Olympic dream. Kwame was raised in Ghana and now trains in the UK, he remarkably qualified for the Men's Slalom but has no funding from his country so he has funded his Olympic bid through fund raisers and donations. The song will be available for download and proceeds will go directly to his Ski Team. More details tomorrow as we find out the name of the song and other guest musicians, pictures of the session will be posted as well.

Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong - The Snow Leopard

Kwame, The Snow Leopard has qualified for the Vancouver Winter Olympics 2010 and will be representing Ghana. Being from African heritage and from a country without snow makes his participation particularly special, he is the first skier from Ghana and one of only a handful from the African continent. What makes Kwame’s dream and journey to the Olympics even more incredible is that be only starting skiing just over 5 years ago.

The cat is out of the bag if you saw the ceremonies on TV last night! Ashley was the feature fiddler in a fantastic high energy piece in the middle of the Vancouver Winter Olympic Opening Ceremony show beamed around the world. Ashley performs for the Atlantic House Pavillion Tonight as well as at the Athlete's village's in Vancouver and Whistler this week.

We will be adding new features and designs on a regular basis and look forward to your feedback. Check out the video section as well as the direct mail order we have set up for rare and featured items. A merchandise link will be added with T shirts and other items shortly. Details about new music and some amazing shows will be revealed in the coming weeks. A big thank you to Joe Soltez for running the fan web site at .net and .ca, and to Steve Pennington for his work on the build of this site.